Chat Review: Love, in Spanish by Karina Halle

We are excited to be teaming up again to bring you our chat review of LOVE, IN SPANISHby Karina Halle, a follow-up to one of our favorite contemporary reads of 2014,LOVE, IN ENGLISH. If you loved reading Vera’s emotional tale in Love, in English, then you will burst with even more emotions in this sequel. Mateo Casalles will have your heart fluttering and emotions going haywire as he tells you the story of life after the ending of Love, in English.

Series: Love, in English #2

Release Date: November 11, 2014

Publisher: Metal Blonde Books

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Source: From Author for Review

Rating:★★★★★

Successful, wealthy and absurdly handsome – Spanish ex-football player Mateo Casalles seemed like he had it all. A high-society wife, an adorable little girl, and flashy apartments in Madrid and Barcelona only sweetened the deal. But there was more to Mateo than met the eye – a life of uncertainty and regret that colored his black and white world.

That was until Vera Miles came into his life like a shooting star. Tattooed, wild and young, Vera seemed like Mateo’s polar opposite at first. But you can’t choose who you fall in love with and the two lost souls did everything they could to be together, all while suffering the grave consequences.

Now with Mateo divorced and living in Madrid with Vera, there is a whole new set of challenges and setbacks facing the couple and rocking the foundation of their star-crossed relationship.

Unfortunately for them, the brighter the star, the faster they burn.

Describe LOVE, IN SPANISH in 140 characters or less.

Ali: A motherfucking emotion extracting story that left me drained in a most beautiful way.

Before you dove into LOVE, IN SPANISH, did you have any reservations about having this story told in Mateo’s POV? Why?

Ali: YES! I was, quite honestly, a little terrified. I went into Love, In English with great apprehension. I don’t particularly like to read adultery. I don’t mind cheating, but when it’s married people, it has a whole other feel and I’m not usually comfortable with it. I ended up loving Love, In English but wasn’t sure I wanted to be inside the married party’s head. I was leery of how he would justify his actions as a married man who cheats. On top of that, he’s a father and leaving his marriage ultimately means leaving the day to day relationship he had with his daughter. That is something that hits very close to home with me. I didn’t want to end up disliking Mateo by getting a glimpse into his head.

Debbie: I was the total opposite, I could not wait to dive into Mateo’s head. While I was reading Love, in English, I had wished we had seen a glimpse of what was going through Mateo’s mind. But now, I’m glad that we didn’t because so much was already happening with Vera that I think it would have been too much. I think Mateo’s journey to happiness was just as arduous as Vera’s and I was more than anxious to read about all of his thoughts over what happened in Love, in English. I can totally see where you would be hesitant to read his POV when it comes to his relationship with his daughter, but I felt like I had already seen how devoted he was to his daughter in LiE that I knew he wouldn’t disappoint me in LiS.

Even with my black heart I found Love, in English as one of the most emotional books I read this year, and I think it had the same effect on you as well. Do you think that LOVE, IN SPANISH had the same emotional pull as LiE?

Ali: I agree, it is one of the more emotional reads for me this year. I did not have the same intense reaction I did to LiE, but it still pulled at my emotions more than most books would. You’re no longer dealing with the falling apart of the marriage, but your still very much dealing with the aftermath of it. And how can that not be emotional? You have to reconcile your love, your guilt, your entire life. Everything changes and sometimes the love you leave a life for isn’t enough to keep you happy.

Debbie: While I think Love, in English had a greater impact on my emotional sanity when I read it, I think that Love, in Spanish still packed A LOT of punch. Right from the start, Karina had my eyes welling with tears from reading Mateo’s letter. Like who starts their book with a heart felt letter that makes you all emotional right from the get-go? Karina Halle does. Halle shows us that even though the couple may have crossed major hurdles in Love, in English, Mateo and Vera have a whole new round of new drama to overcome in Love, in Spanish. There might be new problems but they all dredge up the same concerns, doubts, and vulnerabilities that they had to endure in the first book. There was a whole bunch of emotions running amok inside of me that made me want to curl up in a ball and cry.

Do you see Mateo in a different light (good or bad) since reading his POV? What did you like and dislike about having the story told in his POV?

Ali: I do see him differently. Both in good ways and bad. I now more fully understand his actions from LiE in regards to Vera and to his ex-wife, and that helped me love him a little more.

However, I see him differently in respects to a father and the feelings I had on that end, well, they aren’t all so great. I didn’t ever question his loyalty as a father in LiE, but in LiS there was a moment or two were I felt like he was willing to put Vera before his child. As a mother, I wanted to cut his balls off. I don’t ever want anyone to be more important in my life or my husband’s, then my daughter. I don’t expect anyone to stay in an unhappy relationship for the sake of the child, but I still expect the child to be the most important aspect of their lives.

But I don’t think his thoughts meant what my brain thought they meant. I had to really analyze what he was saying when those moments came about. After thinking it through, my thoughts softened slightly in that area, but never fully disappeared. As I stated earlier though, this is something that hits close to home for me and my personal feelings were possibly bleeding onto the pages. Which only makes it a more emotional read and I just don’t get enough of those so I’m thankful that it pulled that kind of reaction out of me.

Debbie: I don’t necessarily see him in a different light, I think Love, in Spanish just solidified my love for Mateo. Maybe it’s the little bit of Spanish blood in me or my knowledge of the Spanish culture, but I was a lot more understanding or accepting of Mateo’s decisions and actions from Love, in English, compared to some readers. Mateo definitely shows us how possessive he can be over Vera. He can definitely do the whole caveman thing but he’s also adamant about letting Vera know that she “owns” him just as much as he “owns” her. I’m an Alpha male lover and hearing Mateo repeat, “you are mine,” had my heart fluttering. Call me crazy but it’s totally sexy to see a man “claim” a woman. He doesn’t treat Vera like she’s property but reinstates that her whole being basically dictates his own destiny. Anyone else get what I’m saying?

But aside from his alphaliscious side, I also loved the vulnerable side we saw from Mateo. I loved seeing his insecurities and fears. Seeing that side of him made him seem more “real” and gave his character depth and dimension. Knowing he had those insecurities made him fight and work harder for what he wanted. Seeing his brutal determination made me realize that this man will do what he needs to keep the woman who holds his heart close to him. It made him even sexier in my eyes. I mean who wouldn’t fall in love with a man who will fight tooth and nail for his woman? He might have had his slip ups but he still kept going and that made me love his character more at the end.

Overall, what were your thoughts about LOVE, IN SPANISH?

Ali: My initial thought was, “Fucking Halle got me. Again.” This is a genre I’m glad she is writing more of. She writes with emotion and gives characters that feel ‘real’. Seeing the situation from another point of view was enlightening, sad, heartbreaking at times and it made me understand. Love, in Spanish gave me what I needed and made me face some strong emotions that I tend to avoid. It was almost … cathartic. Really, how many times can you say you’ve read fiction that makes you feel like a better person after reading it?

Debbie: Hahaha. I had similar sentiments Ali. During and after reading Love, in Spanish I was silently screaming, “This bitch has done it again!” I loved that Halle showed us a glimpse of Mateo and Vera’s life after happily ever after in Love, in English. We all know that relationships aren’t always sunshine and rainbows and Love, in Spanish shows us that Mateo and Vera still had a lot to overcome. Things weren’t any easier and emotions became heated, but at the end these two show us that somethings are worth the fight. This series overflows with love, passion and emotion, and I am really looking forward to more of this genre from Karina Halle. The way Karina crafts her words is so artistically beautiful that you can’t help but feel every little nuance. It’s like she’s a freaking puppeteer with my emotions and I hate her for making me feel so human!

With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term “Hybrid Author.” Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she’s a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA…whenever possible.Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancé and rescue pup.